Stylist / tailor for M2M wardrobe refresh?
I’m getting ready for a long overdue style and clothing revamp. Ideally, I’d like to go custom where possible - local tailors for a couple of nice suits, custom tees from Son of a Tailor, Luxire for various other pieces, and more.
I’d like to hire an expert to guide the process. To me, this means collaborating to develop my personal style, assessing the gaps in my wardrobe, and making sure that all of my pieces are well tailored and match my aesthetic.
Tailors typically don’t do this, they’re not in the business of critiquing another tailor’s work.
Regular non-celebrity stylists don’t do this either - they take you shopping to construct a few OTR outfits that generally work well mixed and matched.
Since most of the wardrobe will be made by online companies, I really want someone who will say things like “have them remake it with 1/2” less on the sleeves, and once we dial in the fit, order another one in orange”. Basically what we strive to do ourselves, except outsourced to expert help. A tailor’s eye and a stylist’s vision. This feels like a big ask that doesn’t fit the American business model for either profession.
So…where can I find someone like this? Has anyone done something similar? The only thing I can think of is stylists for celebrities, who probably do things like this. Unfortunately, I’m guessing that if I have to ask how much someone like that costs, then I definitely can’t afford them.
I’m in NY but can work 100% virtually with someone anywhere in the world.
34 Replies
lol. how much money you got?
You don’t need to hire someone to help you develop your personal style
celebrities do this shit, they pay someone full-time wage for it though.
It's also completely oddball to be willing to pay someone good wage (which you are, yes?) to buy online. The standard strategy is to go to a bespoke shop in person.
So, really. Do you have a reasonable budget for this?
Planning to spend $5-10k on not-suits. TBD suit budget but definitely M2M price point.
Bespoke is way too much - would probably 10x the cost.
I don't think you know the prices of MTM or bespoke suits tbh
I’ve looked into it extensively so I’m not sure what you’re getting at? I expect to be on 2-5K per suit for local MTM, that’s why it’s a separate budget
You think a bespoke suit is $20-50k per suit?
If you are working with a local tailor to do custom (wherever it is on the MTM-bespoke spectrum) suit, why wouldn't you trust the tailor to dial in the suit fit?
I said my non-suit budget is $5-10k. And that doing full bespoke for everything (t-shirts, jeans, etc) would cost way more
How does that $5-10k break out? How much per item x how many items per type?
Son of a Tailor is like $50-100 for a t-shirt or polo.
A few different companies can do pants in the range of $100-500 depending on material
I’m sure plenty of pieces (sweaters for example?) will be OTR with tailoring
Why are we fixating on the budget? I have flex here, the budget is enough to get it done but not enough to move up to the “bespoke everything” level
money is the fuel for choices. if we've agreed you can't pay someone full-time to do this for you, we have fewer choices, yes?
if you're willing to spend $500 on pants, just... same as a suit, go to a tailor, listen to them. They are professionals at this
if you're willing to spend $100 on custom pants I am just not sure how you have the budget to pay someone to guide you through every single design choice
you might consider a plane ticket to hong kong or SE asia, though.
would probably be the best overall strategy, you can find tailors to make this stuff for you there, and hand-hold you the whole way, within the budget.
Any tailor I go to won’t be a stylist.
I’m looking for a stylist who can give a tailor feedback on what to change. That may be a more succinct way to frame my ask here.
I think what is attempting to be conveyed here is that for 10k, you won't find one.
Yeah, that's about right. Stylists are expensive. A personal stylist would need to work with you through dozens of iterations across a dozen garments and they will need to be well compensated for this.
Tailors are, to a lesser or greater extent, stylists. Some to a much lesser extent, some to a greater one. The neat thing is that their advice generally comes "free" with the garments they make for you.
When I go to a tailor, we discuss design choices. Not just a one way street, I ask, they advise, I suggest, they counter-suggest. It is quite literally their job.
There are plenty of stylists at affordable price points. My budget is my wardrobe budget, not including the price of the stylist.
Like I mentioned in my posts, the problem is that normal stylists take you shopping and are OTR-focused instead of tailoring focused
Certainly I don't ask the guy about t-shirts, because 1) he doesn't make t-shirts and 2) my body is not so unusual I require custom t-shirts, but certainly anything tailoring we can chat about. If you find someone who makes casual-wear, you'd pretty much be covered between two tailors, who, ideally, have opinions that you like.
Yeah man because it is SO much more work to guide someone through custom clothes.
I guarantee you that a stylist exists who will work with you on custom clothes. They will charge more.
100% agreed with walker because... it's their job to be good at suggestions and feedback
This is fine! Or not fine. I can decide when they quote me a rate. This thread is about FINDING that person
Well, I wish you luck. I sure don't know em.
Actually, speaking of which, I bet a shop like Brioni could recommend you a stylist or two.
Let's see. There was a guy on styleforum advertising his services. I wonder if I could find him, it was months ago
That would be great! I’d be happy to hire a well-dressed MFA/SF member interested in a project like this
Styleforum
Where should I buy my first high-MTM or bespoke suit?
Up until now I’ve been thrifting menswear which has landed me some stellar value, but alas, picky tastes coupled with uncommon proportions and the natural limitations of thrifting has meant that finding the right suit has required a near infinite amount of time which I am starting to no longer...
that's two leads
still can't find the one I was thinking of, I'll search a bit further
Drake’s in NYC or Shop Juniors in Philly to handle anything that’s not denim and a T shirt.
Online MTM is great IF you know what you want. Since you don’t, I’d suggest a smaller store that can offer somewhat of a one stop shop.
Useful thread: https://www.styleforum.net/threads/considering-using-an-in-house-personal-shopper-stylist-in-ny.312331/
Styleforum
Considering using an in-house personal shopper/stylist in NY
I'm in my late 20s living in NYC. I'm making a very healthy amount of money, but I'm also incredibly busy between work and a wonderful wife and one year old son. I've attempted to learn how to dress well by using this forum for a while and I think my only success was the suit I got for my...
Bruce is almost what I want!
I’m looking for someone like Bruce except where I can work with any tailors I want and my “Bruce” gives them guidance
Kind of the same problem as my post - Bruce’s business model is charging for an item. I’m looking for a style+tailor consultant on an hourly rate, and I’m okay with a high rate if that’s what it takes
I think you’ll find one or the other. You’re better off developing a relationship with some sales associates at a small shop that offers MTM. Stores like J. Mueser, Drake’s, Shop Juniors, and Sid Mashburn fit the bill but may not fit your style
Really rough back of napkin calculation here
Something like this you might expect to pay 50-100/hr for. Help you find your personal style, come up with a new wardrobe for you, help you with sizing and choosing individual pieces, help teach you how to put together an outfit. All of these tasks could take anywhere from, say, 5 hrs to 40 hrs. And then double the entire thing for coordinating tailor appointments and following up on you as you figure things out.
We're looking at a low estimate of $2k and a high estimate of $30k. Is this what you mean by "I’m okay with a high rate if that’s what it takes" ?
Would also throw in the Armoury and No Man Walks Alone
Yes, that sounds about right. I’d start feeling bad pushing above $10k in stylist costs but that’s definitely a reasonable range
And yes, that means I’d rather spend $10k on pieces and $10k making sure they are done right, than $20k all on clothes
NMWS is great if you don’t want to go hardcore classic menswear
They’re a good middle ground between boring and fun
Yeah they have a great range of stuff
Ok cool, just wanted to make sure you knew what you were getting into, we get some people asking questions like this but think a stylist only costs a couple hundred bucks when it's a very involved process